Your final research paper assignment is to write a research paper that explains how Information Technology (IT) promotes getting people who are affected by policies involved in the policy-making proce
Your answers should present clear conclusions supported by arguments and ideas presented in the readings. Most questions will ask you to "explain" or "discuss" your answers. This kind of college level writing may require several paragraphs, but it cannot be done properly in a sentence or two.
There are no length requirements, but high quality answers are expected. Your responses may be rejected if they do not fully address each part of the question in sufficient detail.
Here’s an example of an unacceptable answer to the first question (which was returned to the student):
I believe that Greenspan was being very realistic about the possibility of business ethics. He concludes that business ethics is a very important part of the business world which I agree with. Business ethics and ethics in general are important to everyone. Purposely changing one’s balance sheets or other financial statements is unethical and should be punishable.
Although this student has answered the immediate question, this response fails to analyze any of the relevant issues beyond the surface level. The student does not support her argument with anything other than general statements and does not cite any specific parts of the speech. Moreover, the student does not address any of the other items for thought immediately following the question. A successful answer would have included at least 3-4 more sentences summarizing specific arguments made by Greenspan in your own words, supported by a direct quote.
Other common pitfalls include relying on sources outside of the seminar (e.g., what someone else said about business ethics) or relying too heavily (or entirely) on quotations from the reading. In short, the main aim of the seminar is to encourage serious thought and reflection - your thought and reflection. I’d like to know if you agree (or disagree) with Greenspan, but what is more important is that you’ve given sufficient thought and attention to the underlying issues, which should be reflected in your written response.
QUESTIONS
1. Is it naive for business leaders to try to be honest?
Please pay particular attention to Alan Greenspan's Harvard Commencement Speech. (backup PDF here).Provide a key quotation from the speech. You are not obligated to agree with any perspectives in Mr. Greenspan's speech, but you are expected to consider the question with care; state a clear conclusion; and support your conclusion with convincing arguments.
2. Please read and think about this quotation:
"The mind is fickle and flighty, it flies after fancies and whatever it likes; it is difficult indeed to restrain. But it is a great good to control the mind; a mind self-controlled is a source of great joy."
--Buddha's Teachings (Penguin Classics, p. 8).
Identify three strategies you use (or recommend) to strengthen self-control. This optional reading may give you some ideas: An interview conducted with Roberto Assagioli by Sam Keen.
3. Please read Book One of the Meditations of Roman Emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. Then write a concise statement of gratitude (400 words or less) identifying the ethical and intellectual debts you owe to family members, teachers, or friends. Fictitious names are permitted, but the statement of gratitude should be genuine.
4. First, please consider this list of failures and successes in the life of Abraham Lincoln. We're suggesting that one of Lincoln's greatest attributes was his ability to recover and learn from failure. The quality of perseverance seemed especially useful to Lincoln as he struggled with "melancholy" (what might now be called depression) Please read this related article by Joshua Wolf Shenk.
For Lincoln, learning how to persevere also meant learning how to adapt. Based on your reading of Shenk's article, please identify three of Lincoln's most successful adaptation strategies (skills, habits, or ways of thinking) that helped him use his struggle with depression to accomplish worthy goals.
5. The Declaration of Independence refers to the ''pursuit of happiness.'' Should the word ''pleasure'' be substituted for ''happiness''? Why/why not? Explain your answer.
6. Please read this decision by the Iowa Supreme Court in an attorney discipline case and answer these four questions:
[a] Should judges care if attorneys submit legal briefs or written motions that are plagiarized? Please explain your answer.
[b] Attorney Peter Cannon was punished by the court and by the attorney disciplinary board. Do you think these punishments (taken as a whole) were too lenient, too severe, or about right? Please explain your answer.
[c] The Iowa Supreme Court referred to another case involving attorney plagiarism (Iowa Supreme Court Board of Professional Ethics & Conduct v. Lane). In that case, the punishment for attorney Lane (suspension of his license to practice) was more severe than the punishment imposed on attorney Cannon. What distinction did the court make between these two cases? Do you agree with the court’s reasoning? Please explain your answer.
[d] The state of Florida requires “personal appearances before the [disciplinary] board for public reprimands for disciplined lawyers” [italics added]. Do you think this kind of public shaming is appropriate or too harsh? Please explain your answer.
7. What advice do you have for your fellow students about the best way to avoid committing an act of academic dishonesty?
8. Please review the assigned excerpts from An Anatomy of Life in the Death Camps by Terrence Des Pres.Kindly respond to this question:
"Does Terrence Des Pres think the human moral sense is an idealistic illusion or an evolutionary survival strategy?"
Please explain your answer, agreeing or disagreeing with Des Pres' analysis. Cite at least one of the numbered paragraphs for support.
9. How is a good life defined, and what is your plan to achieve it? Please refer to the assigned readings (above) to support your answers.
